Dennis Chew's Toyger Wins 8 Awards in First Competition

Other than the rare feline pedigree, the actor-DJ also has a chocolate golden point British shorthair

- Joanne Soh

It was their first feline competition, and local actor-DJ Dennis Chew went in with no expectations.

He was pleasantly surprised when his tabby Woody, a male one-year-old toyger, went on to win eight rosettes at Universal Cat Association Singapore's inaugural cat show held at Suntec City on June 7.

Woody, which Chew adopted from local breeder Origins Toyger in 2024, was the only such breed in the competition, which featured about 60 cat breeds.

A toyger is a rare feline pedigree, and can cost between $13,000 and $35,000. It is known for its distinctive coat of deep orange hues and dark stripes reminiscent of a tiger's.

Four judges from China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand assessed each cat based on attributes such as physical appearance, temperament, confidence and grooming condition.

The Malaysian and Singaporean judges named Woody as the best cat in the Shorthair Specialty category. Woody was chosen as the third- and fifth-best cat in the All Breed category by the Chinese and Thai judges respectively.

Chew, 51, confidently says Woody could have been ranked higher if "he wasn't so grumpy".

The Love 972 DJ, actor and host tells The Straits Times at his home in Yishun: "It was his first time in a public place. The numerous cats, smells and noises also stressed Woody out." Moreover, the competition was long, from 9am to 6pm.

The experience was an eye-opener, and Chew says he is looking forward to more competitions.

THANKFUL CAT SIBLINGS GET ALONG

Despite his fierce-looking appearance, Woody is playful, friendly and affectionate. He also gets along with Chew's other cat. Furby is a male four-year-old chocolate golden point British shorthair that he bought for $5,000 from a local pet shop four years ago.